I’m a local photographer, and I photograph families all the time in front of the little ivy-covered building at the corner of Eucalyptus Lane and Humphrey Road, next to the railroad tracks. Over the past several months, someone has been restoring the building with new windows, a historic-style clock, lighting, and a “Montecito/Krablin/Miramar Stop” sign. It sparked my curiosity, and I’ve been trying to learn its history. So far, I’ve learned that the railroad appears to have owned the building for many decades, and a few longtime residents remember it being leased out over the years. I’ve also heard theories that it may have been a freight house, express building, or even an old fire station, but I haven’t been able to confirm any of them. I was wondering if you happen to know anything about the building, what it was originally used for, or who might know its history. —T.
I first turned to the Montecito Association’s History Committee, which said that the building was designed by owner Richard Sykes in the early part of the 20th century and known as Sykes Garage.
“The three-car garage was built by Richard Sykes around 1905 for his house (now 20 Miramar Avenue),” explained Santa Barbara Historical Museum archivist Chris Ervin. He sent the following excerpts from directing me to David Myrick’s essential two-volume history of Montecito and Santa Barbara (which I bought last time the SBHM cited them and then forgot about them).
T. also posted her question on Facebook, and among the comments was the news that the railroad building is now owned by Montecito resident John Krablin. I found his number and texted him, and we had a merry conversation about the building.
He bought it about a year ago, leasing the land from the railroad. “I heard it was available and it’s too nice of a building not to get,” he said. He’s not the only one who thinks so. “People keep asking if they can buy it. One guy recently offered me a shitload of money.”
The building had been used as storage for gardening tools, and it has power but not water. For the time being, Krablin is using it to store cars. After letting it sit for a while, he started fixing it up—adding lights, the clock, and the sign (“to play with the railroad theme”), and cleaning the windows. If there was water, he’d “have it looking like a garden.”
The lease also includes the parking spaces to the west, but taking possession of them is a challenge. “At first, I thought I’d take all of them—and then I realized I was just going to piss off anybody that wants to go to the beach,” said Krablin. “So I figured I’d just take the first spot, next to the building, to be able to park there. I put a ‘no parking’ sign on the tree. That lasted about an hour and ten minutes. I put rocks in, to show that the space goes with the building. They had those rocks moved within a day and a half. I thought, I have to go harder. I had steel bollards cemented into the ground on both sides. Now they’ll get it, right? I even put a chain across. That should do it. The chain lasted maybe three days. And then three or four days later, the right bollard was gone and the ground had been smoothed over—how they did it, I have no idea. At least they didn’t leave a hole! That’s when I decided that I’d just find somewhere else to park.”
Is there a question you’d like investigated? Email [email protected] or text 917-209-6473.
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Previous Burning Questions:
••• Hermosillo Road’s history, Hank Pitcher’s mosaic benches, missing Chase Palm Park plaque, and more.
••• What are these signs at the San Ysidro roundabout?
••• Can anything be done about biting midges?
••• How come the Gaviota rest areas are closed so often?
••• Why is the Cliff Drive overlook closed?
••• Who installed this security camera in Montecito?
↓↓↓ Why are the railroad tracks being expanded along Padaro Lane?
••• Will you explain the plan to adapt the waterfront for climate change?
••• Why did the Rosewood Miramar Beach install gates?
••• How long will this big pipe be at East Beach?
••• Is Cabrillo Boulevard going to be widened under Highway 101?
••• Was there a Fisherman Inn in downtown Santa Barbara?
••• What are those old buildings at the corner of Castillo and Montecito streets?
••• What’s this scaffold structure on Las Positas Road?
••• Why does street striping take so long to happen?
••• Why do rocket launches look the way they do?
••• How is the San Ysidro Debris Basin designed to work?
••• What’s this building on Helena Avenue?
••• What are those old pilings in Arroyo Burro Creek?
••• What’s this building under construction in Toro Canyon?
••• What’s the story behind the seal of the City of Santa Barbara?
↓↓↓ Butterfly Beach steps, green power lines, SBAG license plates, and more
••• What’s this pole with a flashing blue light?
••• What are these sculptures on the Riviera?
••• What’s the origin story of this fence on Hot Springs Road?
••• Why is part of this West Beach mosaic covered in concrete?
••• What was the Weeping Willow Inn?
••• What does the “S” on certain chimneys stand for?
••• What’s the status of the decommissioning of Rincon Island?
••• What happened to the gas flame on Highway 101?
••• What do we know about the proposed apartment complex at 1 Hot Springs Road?
••• What’s the history of this tower on Ortega Ridge?
••• What’s up with these sculptures on a hillside in Summerland?
••• Is there a master plan for the new walking paths in Montecito?
••• Why are the Thousand Steps still wet?
••• What’s happening with Sola Street?
••• Why is this lot on Milpas Street still vacant?
••• Where else do cruise ships that visit here go?
••• What is this large memorial in Ennisbrook?
••• Who bought the former St. Mary’s seminary—and why?
••• What will happen to the SBPD building when the new building is completed?
••• What’s the story with this house on W. Cota Street?
••• What are those little houses on Santa Barbara Street?
••• What’s the point of this light pole near the freeway?
••• What’s inside Paseo Nuevo’s State Street tower?
••• What’s the point of these markings on Laguna Street?
••• Why is there a giant red shoe off Highway 101?
••• What’s up with the “no e-bike” signs on local trails?
••• Why is Franceschi House in a holding pattern?
••• What’s happening with this derelict house in Summerland?
••• Can you explain how sundowner winds work?
••• Why is there a pressure cooker attached to this utility pole?
••• What’s this concrete ramp thing on East Beach?
••• Why does “USA” get written on the street?
••• What are those poles in the ocean near the Ritz-Carlton Bacara?
••• Are people really allowed to set fires in the middle of Montecito?
••• What’s the story with the half-finished lot next to the Montecito Country Mart?
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How charming. Buildings like this add such an essential textural element to a place. So grateful to Mr. Krablin for preserving it.